Necklace clasp



H. C. SCHICK NECKLACE CLASP July 14, 1931.

Filed May 2, 1931 4 mu s" Patented July 14, 1931 UNITED STATES HARRY C. SCHICK, OF MADISON, NEW JERSEY NECKLACE CLASP A Application filed May 2, 1931. Serial No. 534,510.

This invention relates, generally, to clasps; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a novel necklace clasp adapted to be used interchangeably for either single, double or multiple strand necklaces or the like. 7

Necklace clasps as heretofore generally constructed, are designed to have one or more necklace strands permanently attached 10 thereto. In other words, if a clasp were designed to have a single necklace strand or string attached thereto, it is only 'possible to use the clasp with that particular h strand which was secured thereto at the time of the manufacture of the necklace. If the wearer should desire to use a' strand of different color or character, it is necessary to either purchase an entirely new necklace or else to entirely restring the single strand necklace. Heretofore, it has been impossible to convert a single strand necklace into a multiple strand necklace or vice versa. Also, it has been impossible heretofore to a convert a twostrand necklace into a three strand necklace or to interchange the strands of a multiplestrand necklace.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel necklace clasp which is adapted to interchangeably receive either one or a pluralityof necklace strands,

the said necklace clasp presenting an extremely attractive appearance when the same has either a single strand attached thereto or a plurality of strands attached thereto, the said necklace clasp appearing to be solely designed to connect the number 'of strands it may happen to connect at any given time.

7 Another object of the present invention lies in the provision of a novel necklace clasp having a'plurality of catch receiving openings therein adapted to interchangeably receive the catches of different necklace strands. I

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a necklace clasp of simple construction, which is so constructed and arranged as to adapt the same for interconnectin varying numbers of interchange- 'lo'able nee lace strands, which n'ecklace T is The invention is'clearly illustrated in the V accompanying drawings, in. which Fig. 1 is a plan view illustrating the novel necklace clasp of this invention employed for connecting three necklace strands.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary View illustrating the necklace clasp employed for connecting a single strand necklace.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but il- I 'lustrates the necklace clasp used for connecting a double strand necklace.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line t4 of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 5 isan enlarged sectional View taken along line 55 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig; 7 is a perspective detail view of a typical catch member; and

' Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 88 of Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference areemployed in all of the above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings wherein the novel necklace clasp of this invention is illustrated, the reference numeral 1 designates a hollow body or casing having a cover 2 formed integrally therewith or otherwise secured thereto. Cover 2 is illustrated as provided with fretwork 2' giving this cover the appearance of an ornamental plaque. rectangular shape, although it is to be .understood that this casing may have anyother desired shape, such as oval, round or the like. The side walls 3 and 1 of easing 1 "need with three of'the apertures 5,131

The casing 1 is illustrated as of '90 though it will be understood that a greater or lesser number of these apertures may be provided, as desired. Each of the end walls 7 and 8 of the casing 1 is illustrated as provided with a single aperture 5 for receiving a catch member 6.

The catch member 6 has a springtongue 9 provided with stop shoulders 10 for engaging in stopped relation against the inner surface of the casing 1. A tab 11 formed on the free end of spring tongue 9 serves as a finger piece for use in inserting or removing the catch member from the casing 1. WVith the catch members 6 inserted into the apertures 5 of side walls 3 and 4:, each pair of; opposing catch members is adapted to be connected to the ends of arespective strand of beads. Thus, in Fig, 1 the lowermost pair of opposing or oppositely disposed cat h, mem rs 6 a conn e t h end of a strand of beads The intermediate pair of oppositely disposed catch members 6 are connected respectively to the respective ends of a, strand of beads 13. The upper oppositely disposed pair of catch members in turn are respectively connected to the respective ends of; a strand of beads 14:. As especially shown in Fig. 5, it will be noted that with he pn tely p d catch m mbers 6 of a string of; heads inserted into oppos ts? aper u es 5 in. th id Wa 3 and .ene ofthe catch members overlies the other within casing 1, In this way the casing 1 may be maderelatively narrow and attractive in appearance.

Should it be desired to obtain a two strand necklace, it is merely necessary for the wear-- .er to diseonnect one of the strands of beads from the casing 1. Thus, by disconnecting the catch members 6 of the strand of beads 13 from the casing 1, illustrated in 1 a two strand necklace shown in Fig. 3, is obtained. If it is desired to obtain asingle strand necklace, the two strands of beads of Fig. 8 may all be disconnected from the casing 1 and the desired strand may have its catch members inserted into the apertures 5 provided in the end walls of easing l as illustrated in Fig. 2. In this way the wearer may use the same necklace clasp for use with a three strand, a two, strand or a single strand necklace. It will be apparent that if the side walls 3 and l have additional apertures 5 therein, then additional strands of beads may be worn by the wearer so that desired number of strands of beads may be thus connected by the clasp.

It will be apparent that by employing the novel necklace clasp of this invention, unlimited diversification of necklaces be obtained. l hus, it will be apparent that t o y m y the n m er 0 str nd b varied, but the arrangement and color cominati sas of h nd be Varied or i er ha ged as. de i dhoi the ear possess a multiplicity of bead strands similar to strands 12, 13 and 14, she may vary the color combination or appearance every day of the week, so that each day she will have a different necklace to wear while at the same time using but a single clasp. It will be noted that if the wearer should have, for example, fifteen or twenty-five necklace strands, the combinations are practically unlimited not only as to color and number but as to disposition of the various strands. Also, pendants or similar effects may be readilyattached to the novel clasp of this invention, In other words, by using the clasp of the present invention, substantially unlimited diversification and interchangeability of bead strands or the like may be obtained as will be apparent by the. simple expedient of disconnecting one, or more strands and substituting another strand or strands therefor, which may be done with great ease and rapidity.

As many changes could be madein the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not, in a limiting sense.

\Vllat is claimed is:

1. A necklace clasp comprising, a clasp body for connecting one or a plurality of necklace strands, said clasp body having a plurality of pairs of substantially oppositely disposed catch receiving apertures therein,

a d res lien a h m e af r a a hm to the ends of necklace strands, said catch members being subject, tofintei'changeable secured engagement in said pairs of catch re i i p r s 2. A necklace clasp comprising, a clasp OdY, aid 2 131 dyil g plu ty of similar catch receiving apertures in the side walls thereof, and a plurality of similar necklace strand catch members for interchangeably engagingin said catch receiving apertures, said catch members being arranged in pairs for connectionto the ends of respective interchangeable necklace strands.

3.-A necklace clasp for interchangeably connecting bead strands comprising, a hollow body having a bottom, side walls and end walls, and "ornamental cover for said body, said body being provided with a plura i y of spaced Q ih r ving p j r in the walls thereof, each aperture of one body ell be n r n ed in. appo i ion to a ap ture i he ppos te-hotly Wall; and sat membe s dapted fer mitten -2 nga m nt in sa d atch recei in a ertures. sash. Pai at-latch memberenga e n are er os relv rrangere res al n apertures being adapted forconnection to the ends of a respective strand of beads.-

4. A necklace clasp for interchangeably connecting bead strands comprising, a hollow body having a bottom, side walls and end Walls, an ornamental cover for said body, said body being provided with a plurality of spaced catch receiving apertures in the Walls thereof, each aperture of one body wall being arranged in opposition to an aperture in the opposite body wall, and catch members adapted for interchangeable engagement in said catch receiving apertures, each pair of catch members engaged in two oppositely arranged catch receiving apertures being adapted for connection to the ends of a respective strand of beads, one of the catch members of each such pair being superimposed upon the opposing catch member of such respective pair Within said hollow body.

5. A necklace clasp for interchangeably connecting bead strands comprising, a hollow substantially rectangular body having side and end Walls, an ornamental cover for said body, the side walls of said body being provided with a plurality of pairs of oppositely disposed catch receiving apertures, the end Walls of said body being provided with a single pair of oppositely disposed catch receiving apertures, and a plurality of pairs of catch members adapted to be engaged in said oppositecatch receiving apertures of said body, each pair of catch members being adapted to be connected to the ends of a respective bead strand, said necklace clasp being adapted to serve as a multiple strand clasp when a plurality of pairs of catch members are engaged in the apertures of the slde walls thereof and serving as a single strand clasp when a pair of catch members are engaged in the apertures of the end Walls thereof.

In testimony, that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of April, 1931.

HARRY C. SCHICK. 

